While browsing facebook pages, I came across a folder on a photographer's page called "Cosplays I want to photograph". I just thought this was such a neat idea because some photographers will only photograph series/characters they're interested in.

Looks like a good idea if you are looking for specific cosplays. Looking on the Facebook link, I read a lot of comments that say "I want to do this..." or just discussions about the series but didn't see anyone tag themselves in the pictures (could be hidden or PM'd the poster).

I do have a couple of questions about this comment:

Quote:

Originally Posted by firecloak

I'm biased towards friends and good cosplayers (as in I think they suit the character), so I'm not sure if I want to post it on my cosplay page. Might seem too judgmental...

How would you frame your post? Only friends and/or good cosplay need apply? How would a cosplayer know if they met the "good" cosplay threshold and if they didn't how would you tell them? I'm not trying to be nasty just some questions that popped into my head when I read this.

How would you frame your post? Only friends and/or good cosplay need apply? How would a cosplayer know if they met the "good" cosplay threshold and if they didn't how would you tell them? I'm not trying to be nasty just some questions that popped into my head when I read this.

This is exactly why I haven't made a folder like this xD. There's no way I can say something like that without sounding like a jerk. And every cosplayer needs to start somewhere...

At the same time, if I don't like the cosplay enough, I won't feel motivated to shoot it...

This is exactly why I haven't made a folder like this xD. There's no way I can say something like that without sounding like a jerk. And every cosplayer needs to start somewhere...

At the same time, if I don't like the cosplay enough, I won't feel motivated to shoot it...

That being said above, I don't think it would work out too well. It would probably be easier to just form some relationships with cosplayers you like and slowly motivate them to cosplay what you want. haha

I have a number of cosplay I'd like to photograph, but a lot of them are from older anime and the chances I'd actually come across them would be super slim. A perfect Iria from "Iria: Zeiram the Animation" for one.

I've found that I have done the most growing as a photographer by shooting subjects that are outside my comfort zone, or subjects that I would not have sought out on my own.

Otherwise, I don't really know how I feel about this subject. I guess I wouldn't turn down a shoot request from someone in a cosplay that doesn't interest me, but I wouldn't actively pursue them either.

I don't think being "biased" toward friends is really biased at all. That's just human nature. As it relates to photography, I always get better results the second or third time I shoot someone - we're more comfortable working together, and I start to understand the nuances of their face, body, and demeanor, so we can create the most flattering poses and lighting setup.

It would probably be easier to just form some relationships with cosplayers you like and slowly motivate them to cosplay what you want. haha

I think it's about how wide or narrow your interests/obsessions/... are, if I'm at a convention I could in theory (rarely do) photograph all day long and still not run out of people to photograph. Outside of conventions it's still not a problem, if I'm doing photography it's either with my friends or just looking around and seeing what I can recognize.

I think it's about how wide or narrow your interests/obsessions/... are, if I'm at a convention I could in theory (rarely do) photograph all day long and still not run out of people to photograph. Outside of conventions it's still not a problem, if I'm doing photography it's either with my friends or just looking around and seeing what I can recognize.

I agree. I personally spend most of my time at conventions taking photos of cosplayers I randomly come across and have a chance to ask for photos. Though lately, I've been going to a lot of local conventions where I already know most of the regulars. As long as a person is in what I can tell is cosplay/lolita/steampunk/etc, I have no qualms asking for photos regardless of how well they pulled it off or what specifically it is. Actually, my main requirements are if the situation makes it easy to ask and they look old enough to ask. I wouldn't say my photography is for myself, but rather for the person I'm taking photos of. I only occasionally have fanboy moments.

I think it depends on how you name your folder. As a cosplayer, I love seeing what characters a photographer wants to take photos of. I always get excited when I plan on cosplaying a character in that photographer's album. In fact, the URL you posted I got excited because I'm actually planning on cosplaying one of the characters the photographer has in that folder next year.

Overall, it REALLY depends on how you word it. I mean, you could just name the album "Characters that I dream of photographing someday" or something like that. It's pretty much the same as a cosplayer's "Future/Dream Cosplays." We might have characters in that album, but that doesn't necessarily mean that we will cosplay that character soon or ever XD

I also see nothing wrong with a photographer posting the ones they would like to compose and cosplayers responding with oh, I've made that costume, check it out and see if it is what you are looking for. The photographer doesn't have to photograph every cosplayer that responds, they can choose the ones that they think would suit. I wouldn't feel offended if a photographer said "I don't think that your costume is quite good enough to match the vision I have for this photo." I would get up and make it better. I'd also probably also ask what they thought was off about it, and ask for constructive criticism. They might be seeing something that I didn't consider about the photography of a costume.

If someone gets upset that you don't want to take pictures of their cosplay, then they have that right, but they are posting on your page in response to an open call so it is a bit silly. As long as you aren't a complete jerk about it, i.e. telling people that their costume sucks, and you are able to tell people no, but thank you for your offer, it shouldn't be a problem.

On the other hand, it might alert you to cosplayers that you haven't seen yet, or interacted with that are accessible to you faster than word of mouth can travel, and allow you to take the pictures that you have been dreaming of without lucking upon someone at a huge convention that happens to be wearing that outfit.

As a HUGE fan of anime, manga, and Japanese video games, I am very knowledgeable on the hobby and I will admit that I have favorite characters whose outfits I like and whose characters I can relate to on some level.

It does bring a smile to my face when a cosplayer does cosplay one of my favorite series.

For example, I had a dream photoshoot with a good friend of mine who cosplayed as the main female cast from Shinshi Doumei Cross (aka the Gentleman Alliance). This is not something cosplayed often, but it is something this cosplayer and I have a strong mutual love for, so we had an amazing photoshoot together.

On Facebook, It is quite fun seeing my cosplay friends respond to my rants about certain characters or stories in anime, since it does confirm to many of them that I do pretty photographs, BUT I am also a huge fan of the hobbies that these cosplays come from myself.

With that said, this is a wonderful idea and I will undoubtedly do on my personal Facebook to point cosplayers to a direction so they may enjoy anime, manga, or Japanese games that they otherwise wouldn't do. It is a win/win situation, they may like a new series if they don't know about it, or if they like it, they know a photographer who is well versed and can provide them with a wealth of poses and ideas to enhance a photoshoot.